Arsenal could make a move to sign Julian Draxler on a short-term loan deal, who has reportedly been identified as an alternative for Emiliano Buendia.
According to a report from Mirror, Arsenal could fail in their pursuit of Emiliano Buendia due to a lack of funds. Although the Norwich City playmaker is one of Mikel Arteta’s top targets in the January transfer window, his reported £40 million price tag could be way too much for the club.
As a result, the Gunners could now set their sights on cut-price alternatives like Julian Draxler. In fact, a short-term loan move until the end of the season is not out of the question for the Paris Saint-Germain outcast, although Arsenal are also keeping tabs on Real Madrid’s Isco and Julian Brandt of Borussia Dortmund.
Draxler seems the more gettable option considering the fact that he is the only player on this list whose contract expires at the end of the season. In that regard, a loan move seems impractical for PSG, who will want to offload their playmaker for a cut-price fee this month instead of allowing him to leave on a free transfer in the summer.
A product of the famed Schalke youth academy, Draxler is no stranger to interest from Arsenal as the Gunners were linked with a move for him earlier last year. He was being scouted as a potential summer replacement for Mesut Ozil, but the Arsenal superstar ended up remaining at the Emirates, thus crippling the club’s powers in the transfer market.
Although Ozil’s departure still remains unlikely in January, despite recent links with Juventus, Arsenal will certainly fancy their chances of signing Draxler. The German international does not have many prospects left in PSG following the dismissal of Thomas Tuchel, so a move to the Emirates should give him the opportunity to potentially revive his career.
With Ozil almost destined to leave Arsenal, Draxler could become the desired replacement for his fellow countryman. But for the more immediate future, the ex-Wolfsburg star could provide competition for youngster Emile Smith Rowe, who has made quite an impact in Arteta’s recently implemented 4-2-3-1 setup.
It has seen the north Londoners secure three back-to-back wins in the Premier League, including a 3-1 triumph over Chelsea. The addition of Draxler could, thus, add more quality and experience in the number ten role, while also giving Arteta more depth in the side – something that could be useful for Arsenal during the second half of the campaign.
